BWV 25 Es ist Nichts Gesundes

There is nothing sound in my body before your threats and no peace in my bones in the face on my sins

Heal me, dear Lord,
For I am ill and weak;
My heart, sorely wounded,
Suffers great hardship;
My bones are shaken,
I have great fear and anxiety;
My soul is shaken as well.
Ah Lord, why so long!

Ah, from where shall I, wretch, receive counsel?
My leprosy, my plague
cannot be healed by any herb or ointment
other than the balm of Gilead.
You, my doctor, Lord Jesus, alone
know the best cure for the soul.

BWV 24: Ein ungefarbt Gemute

An Unblemished Conscience

An unblemished conscience
of clear faith and goodness
makes us beautiful before God and mankind.
A Christian’s deeds and activities,
his entire life’s enterprise
shall rest upon this same foot.

BWV 23: Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn

You True God and Son of David

You true God and Son of David
who already from distant eternity
have looked upon my heartache
and the pain of my body, have mercy on me
And grant through Your wondrous hand
that has turned aside so much evil,
that aid and comfort occur for me as well.

BWV 22: Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwolfe

Jesus gathered the twelve unto himself

BWV 21: Ich hatte viel bekummernis

BWV 21: I had much trouble in my heart 

This cantata is a conversation between a man in despair and Jesus. I sang this in the Utah Baroque Ensemble several years ago. It's one of my favorites.

Ah, Jesus, my peace,
my light, where are You?
  - O soul behold! I am with you. -
With me?
Here is only darkest night.
  - I am Your faithful Friend,
that also watches in the darkness,
that might harbor dire mischief. -
Dawn then with Your radiance and light of comfort.
  - The hour approaches already,
    when your crown of battle
    will become a sweet refreshment.

BWV 20 Oh Eternity, Thou Thunderous Word

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqGfDqsCvXQ

My favorite line from this one is "O Anfang sonder Ende" or "O Beginning without End".  Because we are constantly living in the beginning of times, ideas, possibilities.

BWV 19: Es erhub sich ein Streit

BWV 19: There Arose a War

Revelations 12:7-12
Matthew 18: 1-11

This cantata was written in 1726 in Leipzig for the feast of St. Michael, and first performed on the 29th of September of that same year.

 This one has a phenomenal opening reminiscent of thunder breaking forth into a rainstorm of voices.

BWV 18: Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fallt

BWV 18: Just as the Rain and Snow falleth from heaven

This is an early one most likely composed in 1713.

Bach Composed this in Weimar for the 2nd Sunday Before Lent. These are the scriptures he references:

2 Corinthians (11:19-12:9)
Luke (8;4-15)
Isaiah 55:10-11
Lazarus Spengler "Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt" circa 1524

I'm so inexperienced at this that it is difficult to disscuss, but the line that sticks out to me most is a line sung by a suprano (or some other high voice) that pierces through the instruments and the florishes of the song to sing: "Alle Irrege und Verfuhrte weiderbringen", or "That all erring and mislead ones might be brought back" Chilling. So clear and amazing.

This cantata is cumbersomely wordy. I wonder if Bach developed a simpler style over the years?

BWV 16: Herr Gott dich loben wir

"Lord God We Praise Thee"

Bach wrote this one for a New Year's Day service in 1726. It includes lyrics from Martin Luther, Georg Christian Lehms, and Paul Eber.

BWV 16

Final Choral:

We praise all manner of Thy goodness
Father on the throne of heaven
that you make manifest to us
through Christ, Thy son,
and we further beseech You
give us a peaceful year,
Protect us from all sorrow
and nourish us gently.

BWV 15: Denn du nwirst meine Seele nicht in der Holle Lassen

BWV 15: For you shall not leave my soul in Hell

This one is thought to be composed by Bach's cousin, Johann Ludwig Bach, likely in 1704, but possibly performed under Bach's baton in 1726. A song for Eastertide. I really like that word and feel like I should work it into my vocabulary this spring.

Part 1/2

This doesn't sound a lot like the other cantatas that I've been listening to. It's very simple, beautiful but simple.


Part 2/2 

Nice duet. Worth a listen. Both parts sound so rigid after spending so much time with polyphenous noodly works. 

BWV 14: War Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit

So in 2016 I'm trying to listen to one Bach choral piece each day. To keep track of the order I'm just going to follow the BWV catalog and start at BWV 14 here, because that's where I am today. BWV 14 is titled War Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit, or Were God not with us at this time. Wikipedia tells me the text is from Martin Luther, and that it was first performed on 30 January 1735 for the fourth Sunday after Epiphany.

Anyway, I guess I'll listen to it now. It's about 16 mins long.

BWV 14

Were god not with us at this time,
We would surely have despaired,
such a poor flock as we are,
scorned by so much of mankind,
that all set themselves against us.

Our strength itself is too weak
to withstand our enemy,
if the Highest did not stand with us
their tyranny
would soon reach to our very lives

Yes, if God had only allowed it
We would not be among the living much longer
they would have torn us up out of eager vengeance
so angry is their intent towards us
Their fury would have
like a raging tide
and like a foaming wave, flooded over us
and no one could have held back its power

God, under Your strong protection,
we are safe from our enemies
when they, like wild waves,
confront us out of fury
Your hands are with us.

Praise and thanks to God, who did not permit
that their maw might seize us,
As a bird that escapes the snare
so our soul is delivered:
the trap is broken, and we are free:
The name of the Lord stands with us,
of the God of heaven and earth.